For as long as Radeshna Goundar can remember, visual art has been both her passion and strength.
Originally from Ba but currently residing in Suva, the 31-year-old said she started being creative during her childhood days.
“I remember I was always doing something artistic,” she said.
Ms Goundar attended Raviravi Primary School in Ba. She did class one, two and there before her family moved to Suva after the George Speight-led 2000 coup.
“I attended class three to eight at Rishikul Primary School. When I was in class four, we had this art teacher called Mr Fatiaki.”
Ms Goundar said he was the one who introduced her and got her interested in the world of art.
“I was not into my schoolwork as I was more into artistic stuff.”
After she finished her primary education, she attended Nakasi High School, where she further perfected her art skills.
“In form 3, we were given a project about red prawns and we were required to do a display or create something for our class teacher, Ms Waqabaca.”
“So I drew a prawn on paper and it was about five feet so it was very big and I ended up winning the second prize.”
Ms Goundar said after her prawn project, there was a parent and teachers conference where both of her parents were told about her artistic capability.
“My teacher told my parents that I had a creative talent. That stuck with me and I knew what I wanted to do.”
After high school, she attended Fiji National University and did a course in facial illustration with fashion icon, Rosie Semisi, before studying graphic design.
“I got really inspired by that form of art and partook in the many mediums of art.”
Though she loved the world of art and bought her art supplies, Mr Goundar said she once ended up just stockpiling her supplies and would not do anything with them.
“I had some motivation in me but I couldn’t just do it.”
Later, after a bit of coaxing by her husband, Nilesh Rishi Nair, she finally managed to put her paintbrush to a canvas and never looked back.
“He (husband) was the one who said I had it and because I had it, I had to do something about it.
“So I did my first painting and was told I had the talent in me and shouldn’t waste it.”
Ms Goundar got commendation and praises from family and friends but the only person she really needed to believe in was herself.
“So I said why am I in my shell?”
“So when the Fiji Arts Council put out an ad, I figured I would write to them.”
To her surprise, the Fiji Arts Council (FAC) got back to her and she ended up doing three pieces of work which are on display at the FAC gallery.
“People look at my work and don’t believe I could do it, an Indian girl”
“People thought that my artwork was done by an iTaukei person or a guy. Ms Goundar said her husband’s financial support really gave her the push she needed to be true to her passion.
“You know that saying behind every successful man, is a woman? Well, for me it is the opposite.”
Her advice to budding artists is to continue pursuing their passion because there is no retirement age in the world of art.
“And you don’t have to be perfect in everything.”
“Anything can inspire you.”
To know more about Ms Goundar’s art, her Facebook page is called Brilliant Brushes.